Pauloabibite is a very rare member of the delafossite group found in carbonatite complexes. It typically presents as small, dark, platy crystals that are difficult to distinguish from other similar oxide minerals without chemical analysis.
Is this pauloabibite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch pauloabibite with a known reference. Pauloabibite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Pauloabibite leaves a brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pauloabibite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Pauloabibite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Delafossite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Pauloabibite leaves brown, Delafossite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Crednerite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Pauloabibite leaves brown, Crednerite leaves black.
Often found alongside pauloabibite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pauloabibite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaNbO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 5.72 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Carbonatites
- Typical price
- n/a
Where rockhounds find pauloabibite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jacupiranga mine, Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in carbonatites country — that is the host setting where pauloabibite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, magnetite, dolomite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find pauloabibite on the map
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